As with adverbs there are two superlative forms of adjectives – the relative and the absolute. In this first Part of Lesson 10 we look at the relative superlative.

We use the relative superlative to identify who or which of more than two people, animals or things is the best (or worst), or has the most or least of a particular quality.

You will recall from Lesson 9, which explains that in the comparative forms we use più and meno for more and less. To render the relative superlative we again use più and meno followed by the adjective but preceded by the definite article if the adjective comes before the noun or if it refers to a noun in a different part of the sentence. Where the adjective follows the noun, then clearly there is no need to repeat the article. Let us look at some examples.

I have just bought the most expensive car I have ever hadHo appena comprato la macchina più cara che ho mai avuto

The holiday that we took this year was the least expensive of them allLa vacanza che abbiamo fatto quest’anno è stata la meno cara di tutte loro

Saying that, though, he is also the cleverest of themDetto questo, però, n’è il più bravo

The jaguar is the most beautiful of the cat familyIl giaguaro è il più bello dei felini

Irregular adjectives

These are the ones that we covered in Part 2 of Lesson 9: alto, basso, buono, cattivo, grande, piccolo. As with the comparative form they can take an irregular form, but again like other relative superlatives you can also use il or la.